Therese needs viewer votes in order to be shown in local theaters

By JULIE KEANE, Globe staff reporter
August 19, 2004

Friends of St. Therese are circulating petition forms this week to local parishes in the diocese to be signed in hopes of bringing the movie Therese, based on the life of St. Therese Martin of Lisieux, to the Sioux City theatre.

The release of the movie is Oct. 1, the feast of Saint Therese of the Child of Jesus. However, due to lack of funding, Luke Films who produced Therese does not have enough money to promote the movie because the film was financed solely on donations.

In order for the movie to be shown in Sioux City there must be 3,200 votes in the area. People can cast their vote on-line at www.theresemovie.com, call (800) 683-2998 or sign a petition form.

"Without people clicking on to the Web site, signing a petition or calling, they do not know the interest in the area and if there is not enough interest in the area, they won't be bringing it here," said Mary Stevens, past Carmel Guild Board president. "It is so important for friends of St. Therese to not assume that people know about this movie."

The movie Therese is based on the short life of the 19th Century Carmelite nun. St. Therese joined the Carmelite Monastery at Lisieux at age 15. Due to her young age, Therese had to travel to the Vatican to request permission to become a Carmelite nun. Her sister, who was also the mother superior of the monastery, asked Therese to write memories from her childhood and her love for God.

Her writings were later published in the autobiography, Story of a Soul, which has led to the movie Therese. Director of the film, Leonardo Defilippis, described Therese as "a gentle film, filled with dramatic passion for Christ." Defilippis said the first half of the film features the chronicles of Therese's life. The film then takes viewers into the life of Therese as a nun in the monastery ending with her death of tuberculosis.

Amelia Wilken, who is a Third Order Carmelite from Sioux City, said she hopes the film, like Therese's writings, represents St. Therese's life of spirituality.

"I hope the movie is the same as the book - the story of childhood spirituality," said Wilken. "I am excited about this movie. I wish everyone would visit the Web site. People are aware of the miracles of St. Therese."

Wilken and Stevens both said St. Therese's life is an inspiration for many people, which makes bringing the movie to Sioux City very important.

"Therese was so much in love with God and showed in little ways how you can make a big difference," Stevens said. "With Therese it was not that we should be successful, but we should be faithful. Through her writings, she showed the richness of her spirituality. St. Therese is really about love. That was her mission - to love. The power of pray was so evident in her life."

In 1996, the relics of St. Therese were brought to the Carmelite Monastery in Sioux City attracting thousands of people, which brings hope to Stevens that the movie will also be a successful among people in the area.

"It (the relics) attracted over 12,000 people, which is phenomenal for something like that because it was not like people were going to get to see or do anything. They were just going to see the relics of St. Therese," Stevens said. "That shows that there is a real interest in St. Therese in this area."

Anyone wishing to petition for the movie vote can do so by visiting the Web site at www.theresemovie.com, calling (800) 683-2998 or signing the petition form sent to their parish.